Republican boycotts Bond Commission votes

By Ken Dixon Updated 5:18 pm, Friday, September 30, 2016 HARTFORD — A high-ranking Republican lawmaker voted against dozens of bond allocations totaling about $680 million Friday, charging that the state’s high indebtedness is not helping the state budget or taxpayers. Vincent J. Candelora, R-North Branford, deputy House minority leader, got into a back-and-forth on the issue with Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, then made symbolic “no” votes on 41 consecutive bond authorizations for projects ranging from the purchased of 200 new rail cars to library improvements and a new athletic field for Derby High School. “It’s not my position that I question the merits of any of these projects,” said Candelora, a member of the Finance Committee who was filling in for another Republican on the 10-member State Bond Commission. “A lot of them have good merit,” he said, noting the presence of Derby High cheerleaders in the packed meeting room in the Legislative Office Building. “I think overall we need to see where we are with our bonding. We are at $7.7 billion of allocated projects that have not been funded. It certainly shouldn’t be as high as it is.” Malloy who chooses the monthly agenda of the commission, said he respected Candelora’s position. “It is a noble one, except at the end you’re still trying to have it both ways,” Malloy said. “You want to agree that these are projects that are necessary and supportive of our economic development or our community development, but you also want to be able to stake out a position based on monies having been authorized by the legislature in a number that you and I know will never be spent.” Candelora replied that there is an important role for bonding capital projects. He pointed out that he voted for the $220-million incentive package for Sikorsky Aircraft on Wednesday. “This is really more of a philosophical issue that we’re out of whack,” Candelora said. “I’m hoping that my no vote will cast some attention to this issue as well.” Malloy said that gubernatorial administration continually add to the list of projects, including about $750-million a year in school-building projects, in both wealthy districts with mill rates.